History of Joseph S. Clark Home of the Bulldogs

History of Joseph S. Clark Senior High School

In 1947, the Orleans Parish School Board transferred the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School to the Negro Division.  Benjamin Franklin would henceforth be known as Joseph S. Clark Senior High School. That following September, approximately 325 graduates from Couvent, Craig, Jones, Lee Station (later changed to McDonogh No.40), Lockett, McCarty, McDonogh No. 37, Nelson, Seabrook, and Wicker attended the newly opened Joseph S. Clark High School.

In March of 1949, Edward Douglas White High School was given to us. This building was called Joseph S. Clark High School Annex. Later, the Annex became the main building and the original Joseph S. Clark became the Annex.

During mid-term of the first session (1947-1948), 200 elementary school graduates were added. The first year's enrollment rose to 525. In 1949-1950, registration reached 1,673. For the fourth year, 1950-1951, expected registration was more than 2,200. It became necessary to swicth to a "double shift" or platoon system. In spite of this set-up, the school had a successful year and was given a double "A" rating by the Louisiana State Department of Education.

During the summer of 1954, the Superintendent of the School Board separated the two buildings by organizing the Senior High School (10th - 12th grades) at the Main Building and a school for ninth grade pupils at the former Annex. The Annex was then named the Andrew J. Bell Junior High School. This change reduced both the falculty and student body. The faculty was reduced from 84 to 54, and the number of pupils from 2,200 to 1,351. Administration was carried on during this year by the principal assigned in July 1947, with the aid of one teacher-in-charge.

For eight years (1951-1958) Clark High School had been very successful in the Annual Louisiana Interscholastic Athletic Literary Association competition. In fact, historically, Clark made a better showing than any other school in the state. Clark placed second in 1951, 1952, and 1953; first in 1954 and 1955; second in 1956; and first in 1957. Each year the winner was presented the Joseph S. Clark Memorial Trophy, but a school must have won first place three consecutive years in order to have owned the trophy.

In state competition, there are three major rallies: (1) the subject matter rally held annually at Southern University during the month of March; (2) the band rally held during the month of April; and (3) the drama festival held annually held at Grambling College in the spring. In 1955 Clark won first place in all three events.

Football players at Joseph S. Clark had no on-campus practice facilities. The players journeyed all over town and practiced where they could. In spite of this, the football team lost only one game in 1950, 1951, and 1952, and finished in second place each year in a seven-team league. In 1955, the undefeated Clark bulldogs won the New Orleans District Championship; and in 1956 again finished in second place.

In 1951, the boy's basketball team won the city and district championship. In 1952, the team won the state championship; thus making it possible for some of the players to participate in the National Championship Tournament held in Nashville, Tennessee.

Our band was organized in 1949. Throughout the 1950's the band was considered one of the top bands in the city and state. For three consecutive years, 1955, 1956, and 1957, the Clark High School band placed first in the State Band Rally held annually in Baton Rouge.

In drama, the Clark Thesbians placed first in district competition for several years; and 1955, after having placed second in statewide competition in the previous year, won first place in the State Drama Festival which was held annually at Grambling College.

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